Fugitive wanted in area car thefts and chase captured
By JOHN A. WINTERS
john@newnan.com
A fugitive wanted in multiple jurisdictions, including Coweta County, was apprehended Friday after a nearly five-hour standoff in Clayton County.
Tony Perry, 36, who was found in a Clayton County apartment complex, threatened to kill police and himself if they entered, according to Gavin Duffy, supervisor inspector with the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force.
Negotiators with the Clayton County Police Department were involved in trying to get Perry to surrender, and eventually a SWAT team from the Clayton County Sheriff's Office used tear-gas and captured Perry, Duffy said.
"An investigator with the task force did a tremendous job of tracking this guy down," Duffy said. "Everyone did a great job of making sure everyone was safe at the end of the day."
Perry faces "multiple" charges, primarily relating to traffic and auto thefts, as well as obstruction and fleeing from police.
In late October and early November, Perry was the subject of a massive manhunt after stealing at least three vehicles, including in the Senoia area.
Perry was hanging around a Marathon gas station in Senoia when a woman drove up and went into the store with the engine running, said Lt. Jason Ercole with the Senoia Police Department. Perry jumped into the vehicle and took off. Authorities later determined Perry had gotten to the gas station in a stolen U-Haul truck.
Perry then went into Fayette County and to a Fayetteville QuikTrip, where he stole another vehicle after a woman again left her engine running while going into the store, according to a lookout release by Peachtree City Police spokesperson Lt. Mark Brown.
Fayette authorities located the car near Highway 74 and Holly Grove Road, according to the Peachtree City Police spokesman. A pursuit ensued and Perry eventually jumped out of the car into the woods. A lengthly search, involving helicopters and K-9 units, failed to find him.
Perry was wanted in several jurisdictions, including Coweta, Henry, Clayton and Fayette counties and Peachtree City on numerous charges, including obstruction, theft by taking motor vehicle, fleeing and attempting to elude.
